• Midfielder has until 6pm on Tuesday to respond
• Cabaye appeared to kick Brighton's Adam El-Abd
Yohan Cabaye is facing a three-match ban after being charged by the Football Association with violent conduct. Newcastle United's France midfielder has until 6pm on Tuesday to respond to the charge, which relates to an incident in which he caught the Brighton defender Adam El-Abd in the face with a boot during his team's FA Cup fourth-round defeat by Gus Poyet's side at the Amex Stadium on Saturday.
Although Lee Probert, the referee, did not spot the incident at the time, El-Abd was left with a cut face and a review of video evidence has prompted the charge. Cabaye will be suspended for three games if he accepts the charge and risks a longer ban if he contests it.
Alan Pardew, Newcastle's manager, on Monday maintained that Cabaye intended no harm. "The guy was coming towards him and Yohan was trying to keep him away," said Pardew.
With Cheik Tiote, Cabaye's customary central midfield partner, currently away on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Ivory Coast, the Frenchman's absence would leave Newcastle short in that department and could jeopardise their hopes of qualifying for the Europa League.